ballyhoo

[n. bal-ee-hoo; v. bal-ee-hoo, bal-ee-hoo] /n. ˈbæl iˌhu; v. ˈbæl iˌhu, ˌbæl iˈhu/
noun, plural ballyhoos.
1.
a clamorous and vigorous attempt to win customers or advance any cause; blatant advertising or publicity.
2.
clamor or outcry.
3.
a halfbeak, Hemiramphus brasiliensis, inhabiting both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
verb (used with object), verb (used without object), ballyhooed, ballyhooing.
4.
to advertise or push by ballyhoo.
Origin
1830-40, Americanism; of uncertain origin
Synonyms
1. buildup, hoopla, fanfare; hype.
Examples from the web for ballyhoo
  • Its success seems directly tied to the degree in which automakers ballyhoo their winners.
  • Scientifically speaking, the prophecies are strictly ballyhoo.
  • The movie is getting such stentorian ballyhoo that a lot of cinemagoers are likely to think less of it than it deserves.
  • The record fish was caught on a simple bottom rig baited with a combination of squid and ballyhoo.
  • You'll work faster and concentrate harder, they ballyhoo.
  • As with the past reports, trolling ballyhoo using spreader bars is still advised for catching tuna.
  • Perez stated they used ballyhoo as bait and nylon thread, since they did not have any poles, and fished for six hours.
  • Rigged ballyhoo seemed to be the ticket for the yellowfin catches.
British Dictionary definitions for ballyhoo

ballyhoo

/ˌbælɪˈhuː/
noun (informal)
1.
a noisy, confused, or nonsensical situation or uproar
2.
sensational or blatant advertising or publicity
verb -hoos, -hooing, -hooed
3.
(transitive) (mainly US) to advertise or publicize by sensational or blatant methods
Word Origin
C19: of uncertain origin
Word Origin and History for ballyhoo
n.

"publicity, hype," 1908, from circus slang, "a short sample of a sideshow" (1901), of unknown origin. There is a village of Ballyhooly in County Cork, Ireland. In nautical lingo, ballahou or ballahoo (1867, perhaps 1836) meant "an ungainly vessel," from Spanish balahu "schooner."

Slang definitions & phrases for ballyhoo

ballyhoo

modifier

: a ballyhoo expert

noun

Advertising or publicity, esp of a raucous and colorful sort; flack, hype: to peddle a product with sheer ballyhoo

verb

: They ballyhooed him right into office

[1908+; ''a short sample of a sideshow, presented with a barker's spiel'']